Statistic bill rules foreign researchers

JAKARTA (JP): A new bill will require foreign research institutions to form partnerships with local researchers before they survey or publish statistics in Indonesia.

The National Development Planning Board's chairman Ginandjar Kartasasmita told a House session on the statistics bill yesterday that this requirement would benefit local organizations.

"We could gain benefits in terms of technology, information and profits from the partnerships," Ginandjar said.

He said partnerships could include the establishment of new organizations.

"The bill does not specify the form of partnerships," he added.

The government ordered the Central Bureau of Statistics to draft the bill to ensure the reliability and intelligibility of statistics produced and published in Indonesia.

Many published surveys have come under fire for creating confusion by failing to inform the public of their shortcomings or for using small samples.

The bill has also drawn much criticism, with some saying they fear it could be used to stop polling and surveying by the Independent Election Monitoring Committee.

The bill, if it becomes law, will require researchers who produce and use statistics to report their work to the bureau.

Ginandjar said that 1993 Presidential Decree No. 100 required all researchers to obtain written permits from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

He said the ministry of home affairs also required all partnerships with international agencies or organizations to obtain permits from the ministry and the institute. (02)